A583

A583
Name	A583
Country	England
Route	583
Length mi	approx 17
Terminus a	Poulton-le-Fylde
Terminus b	Salford
Maintained by	Lancashire County Council, Transport for Greater Manchester

A583

The A583 is a primary A road in North West England connecting Poulton-le-Fylde and central Salford via Blackpool, Preston, and Kirkham. It links coastal and urban centres and interfaces with major routes such as the M55 motorway, M6 motorway, and A6 road, serving towns, industrial estates, and commuter corridors. The route forms part of regional transport networks alongside rail lines like the West Coast Main Line and is integral to local planning by authorities including Lancashire County Council and Transport for Greater Manchester.

Route

The A583 begins on the Fylde coast at Blackpool near the junction with the A587 road and proceeds southeast through Staining and Kirkham before entering Preston. Through Preston it follows arterial streets including Friargate and crosses the River Ribble close to Avenham and Frenchwood. Beyond Preston the road continues east through Walmer Bridge and Higher Walton before passing Penwortham and joining urban routes into Salford where it connects to the A6 road and provides access to the M602 motorway and Manchester city centre via radial roads and ring routes.

History

Originally classified during the 1920s road numbering scheme established by the Ministry of Transport (United Kingdom), the A583 reflected interwar priorities linking coastal resorts such as Blackpool with industrial hubs including Preston and Manchester. Postwar changes responded to expansions like the construction of the M6 motorway and the M55 motorway in the 1960s–1970s, prompting re-routing and downgrading of sections as bypasses and distributor roads such as the Preston New Road and various urban clearways were built. Local authorities including Lancashire County Council and Salford City Council have periodically revised alignments to integrate with developments around sites like Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Preston Dock, and employment zones near Wigan.

Road improvements and safety

Safety upgrades on the A583 have included junction remodelling at intersections with the M55 motorway and provision of pedestrian crossings near Preston railway stations and shopping areas like Fishergate. Schemes funded by bodies such as the Department for Transport and delivered by National Highways and local highways teams introduced resurfacing, signal optimisation, and route signage to reduce collisions recorded in historic reports involving nearby estates like Frenchwood and trunk corridors towards Manchester Ship Canal. Community campaigns in towns including Kirkham and Walmer Bridge have sought further measures such as speed management and cycle facilities to address local concerns raised by parish councils and organisations like Sustrans.

Traffic and usage

Traffic flows on the A583 exhibit seasonal peaks related to leisure travel to Blackpool and commuter peaks into Preston and Salford from satellite towns such as Lytham St Annes and Kirkham and Wesham. Freight movements use the route to access distribution centres proximate to M6 junctions and industrial estates near Leyland and Salford Quays, and intermodal transfers are influenced by proximity to rail freight on the West Coast Main Line and ports on the River Ribble and Manchester Ship Canal. Traffic management employs urban traffic control systems in Preston and variable signage near motorway junctions to mitigate congestion during events at venues like Blackpool Winter Gardens and sporting fixtures at stadiums in Salford and Preston.

Junctions and notable features

Key junctions include the connection with the M55 motorway east of Blackpool, the interchange with the A6 road in Preston, and linkages to the M6 motorway network via feeder roads near Lancaster-direction corridors. Notable features along the A583 corridor comprise heritage sites such as Preston Guild Hall, conservation areas in Avenham and Miller Park, urban retail zones on Fishergate, and industrial landmarks near Walton-le-Dale. River crossings of the River Ribble and proximity to transport hubs like Preston railway station and bus interchanges highlight the route’s multimodal context.

Future developments

Planned and proposed interventions affecting the A583 are shaped by strategic plans from Lancashire County Council and Greater Manchester Combined Authority with objectives that reference improved resilience, active travel provision, and integration with schemes such as local growth deals and connectivity investments tied to the Northern Powerhouse agenda. Potential upgrades under consideration include targeted junction improvements, pedestrian and cycling enhancements linked to national initiatives promoted by the Department for Transport, and coordination with rail projects on the West Coast Main Line and urban regeneration at sites like Salford Quays to better serve freight and passenger demand.

Category:Roads in England Category:Transport in Lancashire Category:Transport in Greater Manchester